Fang Lang, who came from a later generation, had long been aware of Brazil's oil shortage, and Brazil in later generations had always been a major oil-deficient country. Although the domestic automobile industry is developed, due to lack of fuel, they have to use alcohol as the main fuel supplement, but this is just a last resort.
Therefore, when Fang Lang met Richfield Company in the United States, he entered the oil mining industry. He originally planned to use Richfield Petroleum Company to ensure Brazil's fuel supply, but he did not expect that Richfield Company could not fully Ensure Brazil’s supply of refined oil products.
Now other oil companies are preparing to plunder Brazil's wealth through refined oil products. Of course, Fang Lang cannot accept this. He does not want the country he controls to become a vassal of Western capital again. Although he himself can be considered a member of Western capital.
But becoming a vassal of oneself and becoming a vassal of Western capital are completely different concepts. To say that the consortia that control these oil companies must have Morgan and Rockefeller behind them. But Fang Lang never thought about using his cooperative relationship with the other party to make the other party give up harvesting Brazil.
After all, the rule in Western capitalist society has always been that business is business and friends are friends. The two cannot be confused, and there is no human relationship in business.
Fang Lang touched his chin, thought carefully for a while, and then slowly said:
"Are the prices of refined oil products already high?"
"That's not true. The price of refined oil in Brazil is already 1.2 times the price in the United States. This has quietly increased in the past two years. If we cannot solve the oil shortage problem, the price of refined oil will further increase. The rise will sooner or later have a serious impact on our automobile industry."
"Has the government taken any measures against this?"
“The government has been busy with the general election recently and has no time to consider this issue. However, we have organized some members of Congress to prepare a subsidy plan for the petrochemical industry to Congress.
Let’s see if we can use government subsidies to increase petrochemical companies’ supply of refined oil to Brazil. "
Hearing this, Fang Lang looked at his father with some surprise. He did not expect that his father's thinking would be so broad now, and he thought of using government subsidies to attract petrochemical companies to increase the supply of refined oil to Brazil.
“Brazil’s oil shortage problem cannot be solved by waiting. Although Brazil has a huge land area, it does not have oil and gas fields that can be exploited. Fuel supply can only rely on external procurement, which is very passive and dangerous.
Not only will it affect the development and growth of our automobile industry, it will also have a serious impact on Brazil's national security. We live in Brazil now, and Brazil's problems are also our problems, and we must find ways to solve them.
I think it's a good thing for us that this issue has come to light so early. Crisis, crisis, when there is danger, there is often opportunity.
Now that other petrochemical companies are reducing the supply of refined oil in Brazil, this is an opportunity for us. We can set up a petrochemical company through subsidies from the Brazilian government and obtain oil refining technology through cooperation with Ridgefield Petroleum Company. Then directly purchase crude oil from the world's major oil-producing countries and transport it back to Brazil for refining.
In this way, as long as we can find enough crude oil, we no longer have to worry about being stuck on refined oil. "
Fang Lang's words made everyone look at each other in shock. After everyone looked at each other, Fang Xinshan finally spoke slowly:
"Lang'er, this is the truth. Everyone knows it. However, most of the oil fields now are in the hands of European and American countries. If we want to purchase enough crude oil, we will still be restricted by them. This is different from the situation we are facing now. It doesn’t seem to be any different!”
Seeing everyone's expressions of approval, Fang Lang couldn't help but smile and shook his head:
"You are right. Most of the oil fields are controlled by European and American countries, but not all. At least there are some oil fields in the Persian Gulf that are controlled by local forces.
More importantly, compared with the sale of refined oil products, the purchase and sale of crude oil is more free and will not be subject to too many restrictions.
Moreover, in addition to those oil-producing areas that are firmly controlled by European and American countries, there are also several oil-producing areas that many people have not paid attention to, which are worthy of our investment in developing our own oil fields locally. "
As soon as these words came out, everyone was in high spirits.
"Oh! Do you know that there are oil-producing areas that European and American countries have not paid attention to?"
Seeing that everyone was interested, Fang Lang also smiled slightly, gently tapped the armrest of the Grand Master's chair with his fingers and said:
“Of course, let alone our northern neighbor Venezuela, we are the largest oil producer in South America and even the world. Now Ridgefield Company has reached an agreement with the local government and developed its first oil well there.
With our relationship with Richfield Company, it is most convenient to purchase crude oil from here.
However, Venezuela’s crude oil is mainly heavy oil and ultra-heavy oil, which is difficult to extract and has poor oil quality. It is not suitable to be our main crude oil supplier.
The crude oil supplier that is truly most suitable for us is on the other side of the Atlantic Ocean. The primitive African continent also has rich crude oil reserves. Now most European and American countries have focused their attention on the Persian Gulf region, which gives us the opportunity to enter Africa. "
"Is there oil in Africa? How come I haven't heard of it? Besides, even if there is oil in Africa, it is still a colony of European and American countries! If we want to get oil from somewhere, don't we have to conflict with those colonial countries?"
“Of course there is oil in Africa. As early as 1915, the Portuguese discovered open-air oil fields in Angola. Over the years, the Portuguese have made a lot of money from Angola’s oil fields.
In addition to Angola, according to the intelligence I received, the French have discovered oil fields in the Congo, and the British have also discovered oil fields in Nigeria. These oil fields are only an Atlantic Ocean away from us. As long as we can have the opportunity to join the local oil exploration work, our oil shortage situation in Brazil can be completely solved. "
At this time, Nigeria, the country with the largest oil reserves in Africa, had not yet been discovered to have oil. However, as a British colony, the British had already sent an exploration team to Nigeria for exploration as early as 1937. It was not until 1956 that the British first Oil was discovered in the Niger Delta in southern Nigeria.
In other words, it will be at least six years before this oil field is discovered, and it is not too late to start laying out everything now. Nigeria's independence will have to wait until 1960, if they can make arrangements in advance, occupy Nigeria's oil fields in advance, and incite Nigeria to become independent in advance.
They have a very good chance to directly control this future largest oil field in Africa.
As for the country with the third largest oil reserves in Africa, Congo is still a colony of France. It will still be nearly ten years before Congo’s first oil field is discovered, and Congo will not be truly independent until 1960.
This means that the only area where Brazil can start is Angola, the country with the second largest oil reserves in Africa.
Everyone in the Fang family obviously did not expect that Africa on the other side of the Atlantic would have so many oil reserves. After the impact of the shortage of oil resources in the past few years, they have all realized the importance of oil resources. Now that they know that the other side has rich Of course, everyone is very excited about the oil reserves.
But at the same time, as Chinese, we do not have the same logic of banditry as in the Western world. Although we are very greedy for the oil resources here, we do not know how to obtain these resources from the hands of Western colonists. We can only look in the direction. wave.
However, Fang Xinshui, the gang leader, thought more directly about the problem and said directly:
"Brother Lang, do you mean to take advantage of the fact that Africa's oil resources have not attracted the attention of European countries and go directly there to occupy the territory?"
Hearing this, everyone in the Fang family couldn't help but look at Fang Xinshui with expressions of disbelief on their faces.
Fang Xinshan even directly blamed:
"Xinshui, don't talk nonsense, we are just businessmen, how can we go and grab territory?"
Seeing the incredulous expressions on everyone's faces, Fang Xinshui waved his hands impatiently and said:
"If you don't go and grab the white people's territory, will they give it to you directly? In my opinion, Portugal is the easiest country to bully. How about we attack Angola directly and drive the Portuguese away? Get out there and let us extract the oil there.”
Fang Xinshui's words caused an uproar among everyone, and they all began to whisper among themselves. Although everyone was a little excited, they also understood that the Fang family did not have the ability. If they wanted to do this, they could only push the Brazilian government to send troops, but the Brazilian government would definitely not do this. courage.
Therefore, Fang Xinshan said directly after hearing this:
"You said it lightly. If you want to attack Portugal, how should you do it? Our Fang family is just a company, and Portugal is a country. You can't let God's Whip send troops to go to war with the Portuguese army!
Not to mention whether we can win the war, even if we win, can the international community recognize it? Can we rule in Angola? "
Xinshui also shut up below. I have to say that Fang Xinshan’s words hit the point. Even if the Fang family organized the God’s Whip Company to go to war with Portugal, even if they won, they would not be able to obtain the same success as Portugal in Angola. status.
Because the Fang family is always a company, not a country, even if the Fang family defeats Portugal, it is impossible to obtain legal dominance in Angola.
Not to mention, whether the Fang family can defeat Portugal. Although the Fang family is developing very rapidly, it lacks sufficient historical foundation and cannot compete with a colonial country with a long history.
Seeing that everyone fell into silence due to Fang Xinshan's words, Fang Lang smiled and took a puff of cigarette before slowly speaking:
“Everyone thinks things are too complicated. If we want to obtain Angola’s oil resources, we can do it through commercial means!
First of all, Angola is a colony of Portugal. Like us, they belong to the Portuguese-speaking countries. When we go to Angola to do business, we have a language advantage.
Secondly, we set up a petrochemical company in Brazil and went to Angola to purchase crude oil. As long as the price is right, why don't the Portuguese sell it to us? Their place is only as big as Portugal, and they simply can't digest that much crude oil, okay!
Therefore, what we have to do now is to first establish a petrochemical company, and then obtain the most advanced petroleum refining technology through cooperation with Ridgefield Company. Develop our own petrochemical industry.
In this way, we can get rid of the control of US capital on our refined oil market. "
When everyone heard this, they all nodded and agreed with Fang Lang's statement. But the brothers Fang Xinshan and Fang Xinshui looked at Fang Lang with some suspicion. Based on their understanding of Fang Lang, things would never be as simple as Fang Lang said.
If Africa's oil resources are only obtained through commercial means, why should Fang Lang pay so much attention to Africa's oil reserves? Even the French and British have conducted detailed investigations on oil exploration in Africa.
This is not like just purchasing crude oil in the past.
Fang Lang naturally noticed the gazes of the two people, but he did not explain. He just smiled and changed the topic directly:
"We said earlier that someone might attack our industry, and we said we would use cruel means to scare off our opponents. We also used media propaganda to establish a positive image of our Fang family among the Brazilian people.
But these are not enough. We must also have enough friends who can stand by our side if something unexpected happens.
Of course, most of our business friends cannot be trusted, but we in Brazil have the opportunity to support a group of friends who share our hearts, that is, the vast Chinese community.
My idea is that for a long time to come, our Brazilian Development Bank and Global Morgan Bank will incubate a large amount of Chinese capital in Brazil through financial support and technical support.
Then, through the Chinese Chamber of Commerce and hometown associations, all Chinese businessmen are firmly bound to us.
Only when all of us Chinese become one, can we ensure that our Fang family’s position in Brazil is impregnable, and no one dares to attack us.
Because once they dare to attack us, they must be prepared for a crazy counterattack from all the Chinese business community. "
Fang Xinshan had no opinion on this point and nodded affirmatively:
"What you said is very necessary. In fact, even if you don't say it, we are already doing it now. Many Chinese who have entered Brazil through immigration are businessmen doing business in their hometown, and most of them are in the textile industry.
And we in Brazil have abundant cotton production. For them, it's like someone just sent them a pillow when they want to sleep. In the past two years alone, there have been more than 100 Chinese cotton spinning companies established in Brazil.
Most of these companies have received strong support from our Brazilian Development Bank. At the same time, in order to sell the products produced by these companies, our Chinese Chamber of Commerce has also opened up the European market for them through the relationship with Global Trading Company.
Now, the entire Brazilian cotton spinning market is almost monopolized by us Chinese. "
Hearing this, Fang Lang was shocked. He didn't expect that even though he hadn't cared about Brazil's cotton spinning industry for a while, they had independently developed to its current scale.
I think the Dahua Textile Factory I established in Natal has already become the largest textile company in northeastern Brazil after several years of development.
He thought this was already quite remarkable, but he did not expect that more Chinese would enter the industry later and now directly monopolize the Brazilian textile industry.
(End of chapter)
